Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party [Dr. Banare BUN]; Melanesian Alliance
Party or MAP [Sir Moi AVEL]; National Alliance Party or NA [Michael
SOMARE]; National Party; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU
[Rabbie NAMALIU]; Papua New Guinea First Party [Cecilking DORUBA];
Papua New Guinea Labor Party [Bob DANAYA]; Papua New Guinea Party or
PNGP (was People's Democratic Movement or PDM) [Sir Mekere MORAUTA];
People's Action Party or PAP [Moses MALADINA]; People's Labor Party
or PLP [Ekis ROPENU]; People's National Congress or PNC [Peter
O'NEILL]; People's Progress Party or PPP [Byron CHAN]; Pipol First
Party [Luther WENGE]; United Party [Bire KIMASOPA]; United Resources
Party or URP [Tim NEVILLE] (2007)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW,
PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI
chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC
20036
telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie V. ROWE embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240 telephone: [675] 321-1455 FAX: [675] 321-3423
Flag description:
divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle
is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower
triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the
Southern Cross constellation centered
Economy Papua New Guinea
Economy - overview:
Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but
exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain and the high cost
of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence
livelihood for 85% of the population. Mineral deposits, including
oil, copper, and gold, account for nearly two-thirds of export
earnings. The economy has improved over the past three years because
of high commodity prices following a prolonged period of
instability. The government of Prime Minister SOMARE has expended
much of its energy remaining in power and should be the first
government in decades to serve a full five-year term. The government
has also brought stability to the national budget thus far, largely
through expenditure control. Numerous challenges still face the
government including regaining investor confidence, restoring
integrity to state institutions, promoting economic efficiency by
privatizing moribund state institutions, and balancing relations
with Australia, the former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural
challenges could upend the economy including a worsening HIV/Aids
epidemic and chronic law and order and land tenure issues. Australia
annually supplies $240 million in aid, which accounts for nearly 20%
of the national budget.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$15.13 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.148 billion (2006 est.)